Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State Police Command and the legal representatives of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, have separately called for a forensic autopsy on the body of Miss Mary Habila as investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death continue.
Habila, a staff member of David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences (DUFUMS), Uburu, who was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, reportedly died on June 27, 2026, in a staff accommodation within the premises of the Minister’s residence at Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Confirming the development in a statement on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the Ohaozara Divisional Police Officer responded to a distress call and arrived at David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, where medical personnel confirmed that the victim had been brought in dead.
He said the Commissioner of Police subsequently ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a full-scale investigation.
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that Habila and another colleague were part of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown before the incident occurred.
Ukandu disclosed that investigators had inspected the scene, interviewed relevant witnesses and were making arrangements for a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
He explained that although the deceased’s family had indicated they were not in favour of an autopsy, the police considered the examination crucial to ensuring a credible investigation because of the public interest generated by the case.
The command added that it was awaiting the presence of the deceased’s family or an authorised representative before carrying out the procedure.
Meanwhile, the legal team representing Senator Umahi has also written to the Commissioner of Police, requesting that the remains of Habila should undergo a comprehensive forensic autopsy before they are released for burial.
In the letter dated July 15, 2026, the solicitors said the request was intended to ensure justice, transparency and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The lawyers clarified that the deceased died in a building designated for members of the Minister’s staff and other officials working with him, noting that the facility is separate from the Minister’s personal residence.
They further stated that Habila and another female physiotherapist were the only occupants of the building on the night of the incident.
According to the legal team, an independent forensic examination by qualified pathologists would help eliminate speculation and scientifically establish the cause and circumstances of the death.
The solicitors also urged the police not to release the body to any individual, including the deceased’s next of kin, until the autopsy and all relevant investigative procedures had been completed.
The Ebonyi State Police Command reiterated its commitment to conducting a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, assuring the public that further information would be released as the investigation progresses.